Beach Clean-Up

by Ezekial, TJ, Lexi and Dylan

How could we, as high school students, raise awareness about polluted beach environments and the danger they pose to local marine life? This was the question we found ourselves asking when we started our Marine Biology service learning unit. After careful consideration, our group decided that a beach clean up would be a fun and interactive way to raise awareness and make a positive difference.

Through campaigning, promotion, and daily instagram posts, we were able to rally 20 people to come and help us clean up Huntington State Beach.

Using Sustainable Development Goal #12 (sustainable consumption and production) as a foundation, our group focused on the dangers of plastic at our local beaches.

The sad fact is that if humans continue to ruin the oceans, there will be a chain reaction of death for marine life, as well as a drastic decrease in the amount of oxygen on Earth. So, not only does this affect marine life, but it also affects the lives of human beings.

For our action day, we partnered with an organization called OC Coastkeepers. They are a local nonprofit organization that promotes beach cleanups on a biweekly basis. They offer a great way to take a first step in getting involved in helping the environment. Starting with an organized tent check-in, we were given gloves and a reach extender. From there, students from OLu met for bag distribution and a group photo. Because the OC Coastkeepers are keen on limiting our use of plastic, they recommended that each person bring their own bags; therefore, our group provided brown bags for the members who came to participate.

Our group learned many things about the Sustainable Development Goals during this experience. Using goal #12, we learned the importance of keeping plastic out of our ocean as well as limiting the use of single-use plastics altogether. Through service, we learned that cleaning the beach with other people can make service more fun, and that there is power in community partnerships.

For us, the term “active global citizen” now means we should be citizens who take action in preserving the environment. During this project, we were enlightened to the idea of helping the conservation movement with small actions. Rather than being passive in the preservation of the environment, we are committed to be active in the conservancy of the planet.